News

SEASIDE, Oregon – Today, Columbia Pacific CCO announced that it is awarding a $52,020 grant to Lines for Life to support suicide prevention in schools across the region.  

Specifically, the grant will help fund Lines for Life’s YouthLine School Suicide Prevention and Wellness Mini Grant Program, which provides money directly to schools across Oregon to help promote student mental health and wellness and decrease the risk of suicide. This funding will go directly to school districts and schools in Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties. 

“Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among Oregonians ages 10-24 and our region has a disproportionate number of suicides compared to Oregon and the nation overall,” said Teresa Lavagnino, Columbia Pacific Community Engagement Specialist. “This grant helps schools ensure students in our region are getting the support they need through suicide prevention and intervention resources like safe spaces to talk, trained staff that know how to help, among other community and peer supports.”  

Lines for Life will distribute mini grants of up to $2,000 each to approximately 20 of the 47 schools across the region and can equip them with resources, such as suicide-related education for staff and students, and wellness spaces for students. Through these grants, schools will be better able to meet the unique needs of their students and elevate mental health and suicide prevention programming for priority populations, such as providing LGBTQ2SIA support.  

Lines for Life has distributed over $170,000 in mini grant funds to schools across the state and in almost every county of Oregon. The $52,000 contribution from Columbia Pacific will specifically go toward students living in Columbia, Clatsop, and Tillamook Counties.  

“Currently students across the state of Oregon deserve increased support with their mental health and wellness,” said Jordan Caines, Lines for Life YouthLine Assistant Director of Education and Outreach. “Our goal is to support students in these counties by providing them with the resources, tools and spaces they need to decrease their risk of suicide through a welcoming, supportive and well-resourced environment.” 

About YouthLine  

The Lines for Life YouthLine connects young people with trained teen volunteers who understand and can help with any problem, big or small. 

YouthLine serves as a resource for students and youth who are struggling and could use extra support through life’s rough patches. They operate a crisis and help line answered by local teens and provide peer-supported outreach in the community to destigmatize mental health challenges, increase awareness for mental health and wellness and encourage youth to reach out for help. 

About Lines for Life  

Lines for Life is a regional non-profit dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide. We offer help and hope to individuals and communities, and promote mental health for all. Our work addresses a spectrum of needs that include intervention, prevention, and advocacy. We educate, train, and advocate to prevent issues of substance abuse, mental illness, and thoughts of suicide from reaching crisis levels. But when a crisis arises or support is needed, we are available 24/7/365 to intervene with personalized help. 

About Columbia Pacific CCO 

Columbia Pacific CCO is proud to serve more than 33,000 Oregon Health Plan members living in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties. As a nonprofit coordinated care organization (CCO), we provide physical, dental and mental health care through a growing network of healthcare providers. Our priorities are guided by our local board of directors, community advisory councils and clinical advisory panel, and are informed by extensive community engagement. Columbia Pacific is committed to promoting the health of all those in our region. We focus on increasing access to language services, offering treatment for those experiencing substance use disorders, and fostering connections that promote social health. 

About CareOregon 

For more than 25 years, CareOregon has offered health services and community benefit programs to Oregon Health Plan members. Today, we support the needs of more than 500,000 Oregonians through three coordinated care organizations, a Medicare Advantage plan, a tribal care coordination program, a dental care organization, and in- home medical care with Housecall Providers. CareOregon members have access to integrated physical, dental and mental health care, and substance use treatment. We believe that good health requires more than clinics and hospitals, so we also connect members to housing, fresh food, education and transportation services. CareOregon is a mission-driven, community-based nonprofit with offices in Portland, Medford and Seaside, Oregon.